Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL68604’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘USCAL68604’, characterized by its compact, mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous and freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance; early and freely flowering habit; red purple-colored flowers with black-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USCAL68604’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USCAL68604’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Calibrachoa plants with uniform plant habit, freely branching growth habit, attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 8, 2007 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C582-01B, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ07-17, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 21, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since July 23, 2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USCAL68604’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USCAL68604’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Compact, mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous and freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy         appearance.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Red purple-colored flowers with black-colored centers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more mounding than and not         as upright as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have pink-colored flowers with black-colored centers.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more mounding than and not         as creeping as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have purple-colored flowers with black-colored centers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa ‘Caltrapi’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Calibrachoa differed primarily from plants of ‘Caltrapi’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more mounding than and not         as creeping as plants of ‘Caltrapi’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Caltrapi’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Caltrapi’ had rose purple-colored         flowers without darker-colored centers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the Petunia ‘Sunbelrikupi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,729. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of ‘Sunbelrikupi’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more mounding than and not         as creeping as plants of ‘Sunbelrikupi’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flowered earlier than plants of         ‘Sunbelrikupi’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Sunbelrikupi’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Sunbelrikupi’ had magenta-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCAL68604’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCAL68604’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 24° C., night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 8° C. and light levels ranged from 7,000 to 10,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time and were eight weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL68604’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C582-01B, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ07-17, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 22 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 25 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, mounding and outwardly             spreading plant habit; freely branching habit with about             seven lateral branches; pinching enhances branching;             vigorous, dense and bushy growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 14.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 39 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 15 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length, vegetative.—About 5 mm.         -   Internode length, reproductive.—About 2 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 146C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, simple; after             flowering, opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute to slightly rounded.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137B;             venation, close to 146C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 11 to 13 open flowers and flower buds per lateral             branch; flowers face upright and outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Calibrachoa begin flowering about six weeks after             planting; plants flower continuously from spring though the             autumn in California.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.7 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.6 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 6 mm by 7 mm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 4 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2.3 cm.             Diameter: About 7 mm. Color: Close to N187A.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from             throat): About 1.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.8 cm. Petal             shape: Roughly cordate. Petal apex: Emarginate. Petal             margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Petal texture, lower surface: Pubescent.             Throat texture: Glabrous; granular. Tube texture: Pubescent.             Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to             N186A; towards the apex, close to N79C. Petal lobe, when             opening, lower surface: Close to N77B. Petal lobe, fully             opened, upper surface: Brighter than 71A; towards the             throat, close to 202A; color does not fade with development;             venation, close to N186B. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower             surface: Close to N79D; color does not fade with             development; venation, close to N186C. Throat: Close to             152D; venation, close to 148A. Tube: Close to 195B tinted             with close to N79D; venation, close to 187B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals in a single whorl and fused at the base. Sepal             length: About 1.6 cm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape:             Ligulate. Sepal apex: Acute to rounded. Sepal margin:             Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent.             Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower surface:             Close to 146A to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 30° to 45° from stem axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About five per             flower. Filament length: About 8 mm. Filament color: Close             to 145C. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 1.5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 155C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 11C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.             Pistil length: About 1 cm. Style length: About 7 mm. Style             color: Close to 145B. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color:             Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close to 145C. Seed/fruit: Seed             and fruit development have not been observed on plants of             the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa. 

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL68604’ as illustrated and described. 